The Carlyons were men whose left hand did not know what their right hand did, and the Rev.Rupert Carlyon's ministry had been a record of humble, unobtrusive acts of good-will and kindness to man, woman, and child; nay, the very dumb animals knew their friend, and would come to him for protection.
The Carlyons took their leave soon after this.

Elizabeth walked down to the gate with them.

Malcolm thought she looked rather grave when she returned, as though something troubled her, but she would not hear of the party breaking up, and promised Malcolm that she would sing all his favourite songs to his friends, and she kept her word.

Malcolm sat in a trance of beatitude while the beautiful voice floated out into the darkness, startling some night-bird in the copse; and Verity's eyes were wet, and she stole closer to her husband, for it seemed to her as though the shadows from the old life were creeping round her; and unseen by any one but Dinah, she leant her cheek against Amias's hand.
"Oh, how can you sing like that!" exclaimed Verity in her naive way, when Elizabeth joined them on the terrace.

"You sing right down into people's hearts.